Removable cover for toe-dancing shoes



Feb. 15, 1955 D. c. LUHR 2,701,925

REMOVABLE COVER FOR TOE-DANCING SHOES Filed Aug. 19, 1952 INVENTOR DOROTHY G LUHR BY WM ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to ballet shoes such as used in the theater and particularly to those required in toedancing. The shoes there used are of necessity made with a strong and stiff toe portion, generally leather,

firmly attached to the rest of the shoe which is laced securely to the dancers foot. In some cases, where the act includes tap dancing, the toe of the shoe is made of metal or other hard material. Each pair of toe-danclng shoes is expensive, and when various dances require costumes in different colors, a suflicient'number of pair of matching shoes requires considerable investment.

Toe-shoe covers have been used in the past which came in various colors and were intended to protect the expensive toe-dancing shoes during rehearsals. Such covers were made of strong, non-elastic material and were provided with durable toe portions of leather or other wear resistant material. These served a limited purpose during rehearsals, but still were relatively expensive and were not suited to the public performances. It still remained necessary for the dancer to buy various colored toe-dancing shoes.

The purposes of the present invention are to reduce the cost of shoe covers; to provide shoe covers of various colors that fit so closely that they can be used in public without appearing to be covers, and give the same efiect as though various colored shoes were worn; and to permit the heavy toe of the actual shoe itself to extend thru the cover and come in contact with the floor so that the cover will not wear out at the toe and the same cover can be used with either leather tipped shoes for ordinary toe-dancing or metal tipped shoes for tap toe-dancing. Another object is to increase the safety of the shoe in dancing by avoiding the use of an additional layer of material which might slip, and by permitting the toe of the shoe itself to directly contact the floor. Further objects are to eliminate the expense of laces, straps and eyelets, as well as the expense involved in sewing heavy material.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification,

Fig. l is a side elevation view showing the cover as applied to a toe-dancing shoe.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover removed from the shoe showing its general construction.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in the respective views.

As shown in the drawings, the toe-shoe cover 1 has a round opening 2 at the front thru which the hard toe portion 3 of a toe-dancing shoe can project. This opening is stitched or reenforced around its edge so as to have relatively slight elasticity in order to fit firmly and snugly around the hard toe and not slide up further on the shoe. The toe-shoe cover 1 also has an elongated opening at the top to admit the foot and this opening is provided with an elastic stitching or band 4 so that it can readily stretch to fit around the foot or ankle and pull the cover 1 in snugly over the shoe.

Previous toe-shoe covers have been made of heavy or non-elastic material in order to stand the strain of holding their leather toe tip in place during the dancing. In the 2,701,925 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 present device that strain is taken directly by the dancing shoe and no such stresses are transmitted to the toe-shoe cover. Accordingly, in the present device, the cover can be made of very light and inexpensive material.

It is necessary that this material be very elastic in order to pull easily over the foot and hug the shoe closely, so that it will appear to be a part of the shoe, permit change of color, and not spoil its lines. Previous shoe covers have been cut with a view to rigidity and strength. In the present invention the fabric material of the cover 1 is cut on the bias so as to be as elastic as possible, and is sewed with a longitudinal top seam 1 and a longitudinal bottom seam 1 which extends along the sole and up the back of the heel portion.

Due to the bias cut described and the elastic band 4 at the ankle opening, the cover 1 is easily pulled over any toe-dancing shoe and yet will draw in so closely in all directions as to seem a part of the shoe when viewed by an audience. Covers of diiferent colors can then be obtained at relatively slight expense and give the same effect as though the dancer had special toe-dancing shoes for each costume. Since there is no wear on the toe of the cover--that being taken directly by the shoethe cover will last a long time even though made of 'thin material. As strength is not necessary, heavy stitching and reenforcing is avoided. The covers can be provided with any decorations or designs desired to match any costume. an attractive appearance, the safety factor in placing the toe of the toe-shoe directly on the floor, without intermediate cover material, is of considerable importance in reducing an occupational hazard.

I claim:

1. A cover for a toe-dancing shoe, comprising a fabric shoe covering portion of elastic material, having an opening at the toe to fit around the tip of a toe-dancing shoe so that the uncovered tip can protrude, and an elastic member around an opening at the top of the toe- $111106 cover to draw the cover snugly over a toe-dancing s cc.

2. A cover for a toe-dancing shoe, comprising a fabric shoe covering portion of elastic material, having an opening at the toe to fit around the tip of a dancing shoe so that the uncovered tip can protrude, an elastic member around an opening at the top of the toe-shoe cover to draw the cover snugly over a toe-dancing shoe, said fabric covering having a top seam from the toe opening to the elastic member and a bottom seam along the sole of the shoe cover and up the back of the heel to the elastic top member so as to provide a tension member between the elastic top member and the toe opening to pull the toe opening tightly upward against and around the protruding tip of the shoe.

3. A cover for a toe-dancing shoe, comprising a fabric shoe covering portion of elastic material, having an opening at the toe to fit around the tip of a toe-dancing shoe so that the uncovered tip can protrude, said opening having an inelastic periphery, an elastic member around an opening at the top of the toe-shoe cover to draw the cover snugly over a toe-dancing shoe, said fabric coverlng having a top seam from the toe opening to the elastic member and a bottom seam along the sole of the shoe cover and up the back of the heel to the elastic top member so as to provide a tension member between the elastic top member and the toe opening to pull the toe opening glghtly upward against and around the protruding tip of e s cc.

Bonaventure Mar. 15, 1927 Savale Sept. 10, 1935 In addition to a saving in expense and providing- 

